The contribution by the Government of Canada to minimize the pollution of oil from the "Arrow" was estimated to be $3.1 million. This figure includes the out-of-pocket expenses paid in cash with estimates of the value of the time, personnel, other agencies of the government agencies, along with the use of government equipment. The estimate also provided for opening the Lennox Passage dam and removing the Canso Tickle. Imperial Oil estimated their contribution to be over $900,000 and other costs were incurred by the Government of Nova Scotia and local people who donated a good deal of time to the cause.

Of all those affected by the spill, the approximately 1,000 fishermen around the bay had the most to lose. Aside from other vital species fished, the lobster fishery was the most important part of the inshore fishery. The season was due to open April 1st but it was obvious that the extent of contamination had to be determined. Only small amounts of oil were found on the lobster grounds and it was concluded that the meat and tamale of lobsters would not be tainted and that any oiling of the lobster's exterior could be cleaned by immersion in running seawater. The Scientific Coordination Team concluded that there was no evidence that the oil spill had altered the yield of fishing gear, ships, docks, and other equipment.

Suitable arrangements were made by the task force to clean the nets and gear and a normal catch of lobsters and ground fish was experienced. The men who followed the sea did suffer some inconveniences like having to clean their boats and rearrange their patterns of movement because of the construction of dams and booms to prevent further pollution. However, it was impossible to keep the oil from their fishing lines. Some compensation was paid if fishermen could prove economic loss due to disrupted operations. But nothing could be done about the miserable conditions caused by the presence of oil and the fishermen had to suffer through them.

Fishermen around the Bay normally made from $3,000-4,000 per year but many feared losing a large portion of their income. This was due to the damage from oil on their nets or vessels and from lost fishing time to clean oil off their equipment. Many felt that certain species had all but disappeared since the spill, and one man complained that he could not even find herring for bait. Despite requests from fishermen to close inshore grounds and provide compensation for the loss of income, the government maintained that it was possible to fish in the Bay and they warned them that they would not be eligible for compensation if they refused to cooperate.

There were also four fish processing plants in the area that normally employed 800 between them. These plants used large quantities of water and one in particular, Booth's Fisheries of Petit de Grat, was totally dependent upon the sea for its cleaning process. Until workable filter systems were installed, the threat of contamination was always present. Meanwhile, the National Sea Products plant in Canso had to make arrangements for an alternate water supply in the event its harbor supply was fouled.

Where no alternative supply was available to one plant, a filter had to be developed from scratch. These services were provided by Government through the task force, and fortunately did not represent any actual damage suffered by the plants themselves.

Tourism was another industry deeply affected by the "Arrow" spill. Summer tourists would normally have used some of the polluted beaches. These beaches were included in the areas cleaned by the task force but their subsequent reoiling hurt their usefulness as a tourist attraction during and beyond the 1970 season.

Also, those who ran the motels and restaurants had clean up crews staying in their rooms and eating in their dining rooms for most of their off-season. When interviewed by local papers in 1971 they described a surprising increase in tourist visitation because of the "perverse attraction" of spilled oil. However, many worried what would happen once the novelty wore off and the oil remained.

With no compensation forthcoming, local residents demanded some recourse for financial damages from the spill. The Canso and District Development Commission demanded a full-scale effort to avoid future damage and compensation for economic losses already suffered.

The Isle Madame Board of Trade requested a special agency to assess losses and to assist in preparing claims on behalf of all injured parties. The group asked Richmond County Council to press the Federal and Provincial Governments to establish this agency and launch action against the offending parties, through the courts if necessary. They wanted full compensation for losses actual and potential, arising from damage to the fishing and tourist industry and the indirect loss of business as well as the general loss of enjoyment due to the defacement of the shoreline.

In October 1970, Arichat parish priest Rev. A. P. Poirier and Richmond County Warden Walter Fougere attended a hearing of the Royal Commission set up after the "Arrow" spill. Speaking on behalf of eight community organizations, they believed the clean up efforts wasted millions of dollars while accomplishing little since most of the beaches from Petit de Grat to Janvrin's Island were still polluted. Since adequate compensation was unavailable from the "Arrow's" owners, they asked if at least one swimming pool be built at the government's expense. The government responded that this claim came too late and they refused the delegation's request.

Unfortunately, normal action against the ship itself was of no assistance since the "Arrow" was at the bottom of the Bay and had no value. If an action would have been taken against this company, there would have been a limitation pursuant to section 657 of the Canadian Shipping Act that only allowed for a maximum of $730,000 in compensation. Since the company had no assets in Canada, it would have been necessary to enforce the judgement against the owner in Panama.

The tanker's owners were members of the TOVALOP agreement, primarily a source of recovery for a national government or the owners themselves. Any individual claimant, private company or Province was unable to recover their losses. Under this scheme, the national government could make a claim but could not enforce it and it limited the amount payable for pollution to $100 per registered ton. The costs of the clean up and efforts to prevent pollution would have to have been shared between the Canadian Government and the owners. This made it unclear as to which expenses came within the category of the owner's costs. In addition, any private citizen or group carrying on business in this country, which may have been damaged by oil pollution, had no right of claim against the owners under this arrangement.

Leaving locals with no recourse to make compensation claims, they alone were forced to tough out the oily legacy left behind by the "Arrow" spill. This was a tough pill to swallow which left a lingering sense of bitterness years after.